Just like the city itself, Brighton’s restaurant scene doesn’t sit still for a minute. It’s quite a challenge to think of a style of cooking that’s not already represented in its eclectic selection of eateries but, every year, a surge of new openings brings one or two fresh surprises.

Right now, the buzzword is authentic, with some some great new Asian places leading the way. The magic words organic, seasonal and locally-sourced are cropping up more and more too, and not just at the superb vegetarian restaurants, cafés and delis which have been a Brighton speciality for many years - the city also has a good showing of organic fish, meat, cheese and wine producers right on its doorstep.

While Brighton’s best restaurants and bistros will look after you extremely well, this is not a place for Michelin stars and sky-high prices - the emphasis is on affordability, variety and fun. Most of the time, the locals like to keep things simple: grabbing a salad-stuffed wrap from one of the city’s many tempting delis, lingering over a hot snack and a flat white in a cool, arty café or a continental-style patisserie, or ducking into a low-beamed pub for a hearty lunch and a pint of Harvey’s bitter. Cafés, delis and pubs which serve good food play such a popular role in everyday Brighton life that the city is simply teeming with them.

There are well over 700 places to eat in Brighton, so whittling these down to 20 was quite a task. My aim was to include a recommendation for every occasion, from a quick lunch on the run to an indulgent night out with someone special. Most of the eateries on my list are bang in the centre of town, but I’ve chosen a few spots in the trendy districts of Kemptown and Hove, too. Enjoy!